Dr Greenop said the project would give the public access to a building that is nearly 200 years old and is rarely open.

“This is a really great way for people to get a taste of it,” she said.

“It might not be the same as going there, but people can get a good impression and see what it’s really like inside.”

The building is four stories tall and has steep staircases which make it difficult to navigate.

Its walls are lined with pencil graffiti, dating back more than 100 years.

Master of Architecture student Jay Stocker and PhD candidate Pat Manyuru managed to recreate the current structure as well as a second version which features the building restored to its original form – complete with the windmill’s original mechanical workings.

“We’ve made the colonial version from back when convicts operated a treadmill to process wheat and corn crops,” Dr Greenop said.

She said the team has worked to capture every texture and detail to ensure the recreation is as accurate as possible.

“It’s really important that it looks realistic so it’s not only authentic, but historically useful.

“This is just one way we can use digital infrastructure as a way of exploring the past, present and future.”